Once Once more, Pittsburgh Is Tapped As A High Travel Vacation spot In The World

PITTSBURGH HAS LANDED ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL TO IN 2026 | PHOTO BY DAVE DICELLO

Last 12 months, Lonely Planet chosen Pittsburgh amongst its prime 10 “must-visit” locations on the earth for 2025 — the one U.S. metropolis on the listing.

Now, the Steel City has simply made the listing of prime 25 “Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2026” by National Geographic. Once once more it’s the one U.S. metropolis on the listing, rubbing shoulders with such iconic locations as Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Manila and Vancouver, B.C.

Other areas within the U.S. on the National Geographic listing embody the Badlands in North Dakota, Route 66 in Oklahoma (because the famed freeway celebrates its a hundredth anniversary) and the Hawaiian island Maui.

National Geographic stated the cities and areas have been “hand-picked” by National Geographic’s world group of explorers, photographers and editors.

Why go to Pittsburgh? The journal describes Pittsburgh as “a postindustrial city with a thriving cultural scene — and a head of steam.”

But as a substitute of specializing in town’s conversion from metal to tech or its highly effective sports activities group, the journal highlights Pittsburgh’s sturdy cultural scene and vibrant neighborhoods.

“Steel mills once shaped outsiders’ whole impressions of Pittsburgh, but today the city increasingly defines itself by embracing the venerable cultural institutions that industrial prosperity helped build. At the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, it’s easy to spend a day admiring just the marquee collections of Impressionist works and dinosaur fossils (though there’s plenty more to see). Next year’s Carnegie International, held every four years, is one of the contemporary art world’s most talked-about exhibitions.”

THE ENTRANCE SPACE OF THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM | PHOTO BY DEAN KAUFMAN

It goes on to reward The Andy Warhol Museum’s $60 million enlargement bringing a brand new performing arts venue to the Pop District on the North Side and the National Aviary, “where visitors can stand in free-flight habitats amid hundreds of soaring, squawking birds.of soaring, squawking birds.”

It mentions all the development underway to get Downtown prepared for the NFL Draft and encourages guests to journey the Duquesne Incline from Mount Washington to get the perfect view of the Golden Triangle.

“It’s an incredible honor for Pittsburgh to be included among National Geographic’s Best of the World 2026,” Jerad Bachar, president & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, stated in a press release. “This designation is a testament to our ongoing efforts to tell the story of Pittsburgh and reach travelers worldwide. It’s a reflection of our region’s continuing evolution —f rom industrial town to cultural innovator—and how that story resonates on a global scale.”

Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of tourism for Pennsylvania, echoed his reward

“National Geographic’s recognition of Pittsburgh as a Best of the World destination is a game-changer for Pennsylvania tourism,” she stated in a press release. “When one of the world’s most trusted travel authorities puts Pittsburgh on the same list as the planet’s most extraordinary destinations, travelers take notice. This is the kind of global spotlight that turns curiosity into bookings — and we’re ready to welcome the world to experience Pittsburgh.”